the closed door meeting was an attempt to avoid the automatic tax headaches and spending cuts set to king at the start of the new year. with just three days to go republicans and democrats are still blaming each other. >> i want to thank all of you for being here to call upon the republicans not to drop the ball on the middle class. >> reporter: there was a new year's eve style rally saying the fiscal cliff ball is in the republicans court. >> it's republicans who are holding hostage the middle class in america so that the wealthy don't have to pay their fair share. >> we need two words. presidential leadership, while not just taxing rich people. >> reporter: tennessee republicans lamar alexander and bob corker said the president has to take the lead. corker was not optimistic about the white house meeting. >> we're going end one a small kick the can down the road bill that creates another fiscal cliff to deal with this fiscal cliff. >> reporter: today's meeting at the white house is the first time since mid-november that at the present time has had all four congressional leaders in